Cooking with cilantro: a finishing herb with a clear role

Cilantro is a finishing ingredient in several home-cooking ideas on La Placita. Its role is easier to judge when you add it deliberately, rather than treating a large handful as an automatic requirement.

Decide where it belongs

For bean tacos, cilantro can stay in a separate bowl so each person controls the amount. In pico de gallo, it becomes part of the mixture with tomato and onion. In guacamole, it is an optional addition in the version presented here.

These are different uses. A quantity that suits a bowl of salsa may overwhelm a single taco, so adjust to the actual dish rather than copying an amount without its context.

Prepare only what you need

Select a suitable ingredient and wash and prepare it with appropriate hygiene. Use a clean board and utensil, then cut to a size that distributes comfortably through the food. Follow suitable storage guidance for the product you purchased.

Add, taste and record

Start with a small amount in a sample portion. If somebody does not want cilantro, keeping it separate is simpler than trying to remove it from a completed mixture. Record whether you used it in the preparation or only at the table. That distinction helps you repeat the combination you actually enjoyed.

Related reading

• Tomatoes for fresh salsa: match the cut to the dish
• Fresh chiles and hot sauces: check the form before substituting

Cover illustration generated with AI.